Blueberry plant named ‘NS 15-22’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally as ‘NS 15-22’ is described, with a strong vigor and which produces fruit considered low in acidity and medium in firmness under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.

Latin name: Vaccinium hybrid.

Variety denomination: The invention relates to a new, novel, anddistinct variety of blueberry plant, a Vaccinium hybrid, with a varietydenomination hereinafter as ‘NS 15-22’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119 toCommunity Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Application No. 2019/1985 forCommunity Plant Variety Rights, filed on Aug. 15, 2019 for a blueberryplant with a variety denomination of ‘NS 15-22’, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY

The new variety of blueberry plant resulted from an ongoing developmentprogram of plant breeding conducted to identify such plants. The purposeof the program was to improve the commercial quality of blueberry plantsand other plant species. To this end, controlled, hybrid,cross-pollinations were made in order to produce plant populations fromwhich improved progeny were evaluated and thereafter selected.

The ‘NS 15-22’ blueberry plant was originated and selected from apopulation of new plants growing on the breeder's property, which islocated at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia. The newvariety of blueberry plant was derived from a controlled, hybrid,cross-pollination of the seed parent, blueberry plant ‘EB 9-4’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 28,334), and a pollen parent, blueberry plant ‘EB 8-46’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,173) during the 2013 growing season.

PRIOR VARIETIES

The seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ is characterized principally by a semi-uprightto intermediate growth habit, a medium vigor, a very early season firstpick date, and further produces large- to very-large-sized, firm, highsweetness, and low to medium acidity fruit under the ecologicalconditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Also, the seedparent ‘EB 9-4’ exhibits a very early date of bloom time and a last pickdate in February of the following year under the ecological conditionsoccurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Further, the seed parent ‘EB9-4’ is evergreen and produces fruit on one-year-old and currentseason's shoots.

The pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, on the other hand, is characterizedprincipally by an intermediate growth habit, a medium to strong vigor,an early season first pick date, and further produces very-large-sized,firm to very firm, high sweetness, and low acidity fruit under theecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Also, thepollen parent ‘EB 8-46’ exhibits an early date of bloom time and aNovember last pick date under the ecological conditions occurring inYanchep, Western Australia. Further, the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’ issemi-evergreen and produces fruit on one-year-old and current season'sshoots.

ORIGIN

The seed from the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ produced approximately 2,400plants following cross-pollination. These new plants were then grown atthe aforementioned property, and fruit from these new plants was firstobserved in 2014. A subsequent assessment of these same self-fertile,new plants conducted during the 2015 growing season led to selecting the‘NS 15-22’ variety for further evaluation.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

The further evaluation included an asexual vegetative propagation, byvegetative cuttings, at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia.Subsequent evaluations of the newly derived plant in the 2016 growingseason led to a conclusion that the ‘NS 15-22’ variety was a distinctand new variety of blueberry plant found to be true to the originalplant. The new variety of blueberry plant was considered to be novel inview of its strong vigor and medium firm fruit, which exhibited lowacidity.

COMPARISONS

In comparison to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ under the ecologicalconditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia, the new variety hasnoteworthy vigor and fruit. In this regard, the seed parent exhibits aplant vigor considered to be medium. However, the new variety ofblueberry plant exhibits a plant vigor considered to be strong. Inaddition, the seed parent produces fruit considered to be low to mediumin acidity. In contrast, the fruit of the new variety of blueberry plantis considered to be low in acidity. Further, the seed parent producesfruit considered to be firm. This is in contrast to the fruit of the newvariety of blueberry plant, which is considered to be medium infirmness.

In comparison to the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’ under the ecologicalconditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia, the new variety hasnoteworthy vigor and fruit. In this regard, the pollen parent exhibits aplant vigor considered to be medium to strong. However, the new varietyof blueberry plant exhibits a plant vigor considered to be strong. Inaddition, both the pollen parent and the new variety produce fruitconsidered to be low in acidity. Further, the seed parent produces fruitconsidered to be firm to very firm. This is in contrast to the fruit ofthe new variety of blueberry plant, which is considered to be medium infirmness.

The new variety of blueberry plant is readily distinguishable from themost closely related, known variety, ‘EB 8-46,’ the pollen parent.

The comparisons described above are summarized in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Summary of Comparisons ‘EB 9-4’ ‘EB 8-46’ ‘NS 15-22’ (Seed)(Pollen) Plant vigor Strong Medium Medium to strong Fruit acidity LowLow to medium Low Fruit firmness Medium Firm Firm to very firmIn addition, Table 2 below compares the ‘NS 15-22’ variety to severalsibling cultivars that resulted from same the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ andpollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, namely, ‘NS 15-5’ (U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 17/087,369), ‘NS 15-13’ (U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 16/990,818), and ‘NS 16-15’ (U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 16/991,868).

TABLE 2 Comparison to Sibling Cultivars ‘NS 15-22’ ‘NS 15-5’ ‘NS 15-13’‘NS 16-15’ Plant vigor Strong Strong Medium to Medium to strong strongFruit acidity Low Very low to Low to Low low medium Fruit firmnessMedium Medium Medium Firm to firm Fruit size Large to Large to veryLarge Large very large large Fruit cluster Medium Medium to Sparse toDense density dense medium Fruiting type on one- on one-yr-old onone-yr-old on one- yr-old and current shoots only yr-old shoots onlyseason's shoots only shoots Vegetative bud Early, Early, Early, Early,burst timing end of May end of May end of May mid-Jun Fruit MediumMedium Medium Medium sweetness

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are color photographs of the new blueberryplant ‘NS 15-22’ during the third year of growth under the ecologicalconditions prevailing at the breeder's property, which is located atYanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph, which shows fruit, blooms, leaves, and aportion of a vegetative stem of the new blueberry plant ‘NS 15-22’, thefruit being sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment. Thisphotograph also depicts the fruit size and the color of the ripe fruit,two leaves showing the sizes and the upper and under side colorationsthereof, two blooms at different stages of maturation, and additionalleaves on the stem at different stages of maturation.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph, which shows the new blueberry plant ‘NS15-22’. This photograph depicts a mature bush with ripe and unripefruits, the fruit size, and the upright growth habit of the bush. Theripe fruit is sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment.

The colors in these photographs are as nearly true as is reasonablypossible in a color representation of this type. Due to variations incolor printers and/or chemical development, processing and printing, thecolors of the plant parts depicted in these photographs may, or may not,be accurate when compared to the actual specimen. For this reason, colorreferences are made to the color plates (Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart, Sixth Edition, hereinafter, “R.H.S.”) and descriptionsprovided.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION Not a Commercial Warranty

The following detailed description was prepared solely to comply withthe provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, and does not constitute a commercialwarranty (either expressed or implied) that the present variety will, inthe future, display the botanical, horticultural, or othercharacteristics set forth herein. Therefore, this disclosure may not berelied upon to support any future legal claims including, but notlimited to, breach of warranty of merchantability, or fitness for anyparticular purpose, or non-infringement, which is directed in whole, orin part, to the present new variety of plant.

Referring more specifically to the botanical features of this new anddistinct variety of blueberry plant, the following has been observedduring the third year of growth under the ecological conditionsprevailing at the breeder's property, which is located at YanchepSprings in Yanchep, Western Australia.

-   Plant: General.    -   -   Vigor.—Considered strong for the species. This is in            contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’, wherein the vigor is            considered medium, and the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, wherein            the vigor is considered medium to strong.        -   Growth habit.—Considered upright. This is in comparison to            the commercial variety ‘Ivanhoe’ (unpatented), which is            considered to be upright.        -   Average size of plant.—1.2 meters in height by 0.57 meters            in width.        -   Internode length (space between nodes).—Considered short to            medium, 15.5 millimeters (mm).        -   Bark color.—RHS Moderate Reddish Brown Group 177A.        -   One-year-old shoots.—Color — RHS Strong Yellow Green Group            N144D; surface texture — smooth.        -   Fruiting type.—On one-year-old shoots only, in like manner            to commercial varieties ‘Darrow’ (unpatented) and ‘Patriot’            (unpatented).-   Foliage: General.    -   -   Average leaf length.—Considered medium to long for the            species, 58.4 mm.        -   Average leaf width.—Considered medium to broad for the            species, 30.5 mm.        -   Color of leaf upper.—RHS Greyish Olive Green Group NN137C.        -   Color of leaf underside.—RHS Moderate Yellow Green Group            139C.        -   Vein color of plant leaf.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145C.        -   Venation pattern of leaf.—Pinnate reticulate.        -   Leaf apex texture.—Glabrous.        -   Leaf apex shape.—Acute.        -   Leaf base shape.—Acute.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Leaf arrangement of plant.—Alternate.        -   Petiole length.—3.67 mm.        -   Petiole diameter.—1.40 mm.        -   Petiole.—Color — RHS Light Yellow Green 145C; surface            texture — smooth.-   Flowers:    -   -   Number of flowers/inflorescence.—5.        -   Length of inflorescence (excluding pedicel).—Considered            medium to long, 8 to 7 mm.        -   Corolla shape.—Urceolate.        -   Corolla tube surface texture.—Ridges are present on the            corolla tube.        -   Average corolla length.—11.7 mm.        -   Corolla diameter.—7.81 mm.        -   Corolla aperture size.—4.36 mm.        -   Corolla color.—RHS Greenish White Group 155C.        -   Pedicel.—Color .— RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145C; length            — 9.86 mm.        -   Peduncle.—Color — RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145D;            diameter — 1.93 mm; texture — smooth.        -   Average calyx diameter.—Considered small to medium, 4.15 mm.        -   Average calyx basin depth.—Considered shallow, 1.01 mm.        -   Attitude of sepals.—Erect.        -   Type of sepals.—Straight.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Size of pollen anthers.—5.46 mm.        -   Color of pollen anthers.—RHS Brownish Orange Group N167B.        -   Pistil length.—10.47 mm.        -   Pistil color.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145C.-   Fruit:    -   -   Color of unripe fruit.—RHS Strong Yellow Group N144B.        -   Color of fruit skin.—RHS Bluish Black Group 203C, also            considered “dark blue” in like color to the commercial            variety ‘Heerma’ (unpatented), after removal of bloom.        -   Color of ripe fruit flesh.—RHS Pale Yellow Green Group 196C.        -   Color of seeds.—RHS Moderate Reddish Brown Group 177A.        -   Average fruit size.—21 mm in diameter and 14.59 mm in            height.        -   Average weight of fruit.—1.9 grams.        -   Berry shape.—Considered oblate to round.        -   Sweetness when ripe.—Considered medium for the species.        -   Firmness when ripe.—Considered medium for the species. This            is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’, wherein the            firmness is considered firm, and the pollen parent ‘EB            8-46’, wherein the firmness is considered firm to very firm.        -   Acidity when ripe.—Considered low for the species. This is            in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’, wherein the fruit            acidity is considered low to medium. This is comparable to            the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, wherein the fruit acidity is            also considered low.        -   Cluster density.—Considered medium dense for the species; 6            to 9 berries per cluster.        -   Average fruit production.—3 kilograms on a two-year-old            bush.        -   Storability of fruit.—Considered excellent for the species            (storage trials at the breeding stage were at 3° C. to            repliate the back of a standard refrigeration system and            berries needed to survive a minimum of 12 weeks to score an            “excellent” rating).        -   Market use of fruit.—1st grade fresh market fruit.        -   Date of bud burst.—This variety is evergreen under the            ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western            Australia, but a bud break occurs the end of May, which is            considered early for the species.        -   Date of bloom time.—This variety is evergreen under the            ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western            Australia, but a bloom time occurs in early July, which is            considered very early on one-year old shoot in like manner            to the commercial variety ‘Patriot’ (unpatented).        -   Duration of bloom time and bloom intensity.—6 weeks; bloom            intensity is considered medium.        -   Beginning of fruit ripening.—Considered very early on            one-year-old shoot in like manner to the commercial variety            ‘Bluetta’ (unpatented).        -   First pick date.—The observed date of the first pick is            approximately September under the ecological conditions            prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.        -   Last pick date.—The observed date of the last pick is            approximately November under the ecological conditions            prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.        -   Pollination requirements.—Self-fertile.        -   Resistance to pests and disease.—No particular resistance            noted. The variety has not been tested to detect any            resistance.

Although the new variety of blueberry plant possesses the describedcharacteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing inYanchep, Western Australia, it should be understood that variations areto be expected in the usual magnitude and characteristics incident tochanges in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control,frost, climatic variables, and horticultural management.

Having thus described and illustrated a new variety of blueberry plant,what is claimed to secure a plant letters patent is:
 1. A new anddistinct variety of blueberry plant, substantially as illustrated anddescribed, which is characterized principally as to novelty by a strongvigor and by producing fruit considered low in acidity and medium infirmness under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, WesternAustralia.